Condon McGlothlen Quoted in Federal EEO Advisor
“Genetic Testing Could Lead to Discrimination, Experts Warn”

Condon McGlothlen was quoted in the article, “Genetic Testing Could Lead to Discrimination, Experts Warn,” published in the August 1, 2007 issue of Federal EEO Advisor. The article reports that it is currently prohibited to make employment decisions based on genetic information, but experts say that more protections will likely be needed as technology continues to advance. Current and former employees of the executive branch are protected by Executive Order 13145 that prohibits employment information based on protected genetic information, and lawmakers are looking to extend such protections to the private sector. In fact, the House of Representatives has passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and the Senate has passed a similar bill.

Condon noted that “[t]his is an area where the scientific development is ahead of the law, and Congress is being rightfully proactive in wanting to encourage the good science but discourage adverse employment actions based on some of these potentially troublesome scientific developments.” He further reflected, “As the pressure from growing health care costs grows and technology develops, the question becomes what should the law do?” Condon explained that determining the answer to that question involves a delicate balance: “The government wants to keep up a protective barrier, while not discouraging the type of research that holds promise in many fields.”